About us

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About us

Welcome to La Garenne Winter Camps

Founded in 1947, La Garenne International School is a leading primary boarding school located in the Swiss Alps. Owned and managed for two generations by the Méan family, our school is set in the charming French-speaking ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon providing a secure picturesque environment for our students. Our philosophy is based on the traditional values of responsibility, kindness and security, which are key elements for a successful and balanced life.

Our school enjoys an exceptional location, perched at an altitude of 1’300m. Villars-sur-Ollon faces the sun whilst being refreshed by pure alpine air. Surrounded by majestic mountain peaks which include Mont Blanc, we overlook the Rhone Valley and the famous Swiss Riviera - Montreux, Lausanne and Geneva.

n addition to our regular school year, each winter we welcome young learners aged 5 to 15 years old. Along with our academic year students, the school body represents over 35 different nationalities from around the world. They enjoy our renowned authentic Swiss Style Winter Camp. Dates of flexible from January, February and March (minimum 1 week stay) during which campers experience a varied programme with language lessons in the morning - French or English taught from beginner to advanced levels - and every afternoon, Ski or Snowboarding, sports, cultural and leisure activities. Campers enjoy learning, playing, discovering and sharing in a warm and reassuring family environment. Our ‘adult to student’ ratio is 1:2; these adults are teachers and monitors who are employed all year round by La Garenne, to ensure camps are safe and memorable.

Philosophy

Based on the traditional values of our Philosophy - "Be responsible, Never give up, Act kindly and Make an effort" - our mission is to offer academic excellence and original times, insure our campers experience an unforgettable stay in a warm international family environment, full of diverse opportunities, and in a safe location of exceptional surroundings, as in a home away from home. With this in mind, and the knowledge that no two children are alike, we promote respect, tolerance, politeness, challenging oneself and citizenship.

Safety

Switzerland, a country recognised for its stability and security, provides a healthy environment for your child(ren). La Garenne is equipped with the latest safety standards including safe play equipment.

The health of your child(ren) is of upmost importance to us. We have put in place some rules to ensure the daily well-being of each child. Known as the Four Pillars, these are a balanced diet, plenty of sleep, a variety of daily activities and a healthy mind.

Well-being

We have chosen the ‘Eldora’ food specialist group to provide school meals. They are committed to delivering varied and balanced menus using high quality local products and guaranteeing the highest levels in food production, hygiene, preparation and storage.

We ensure that children sleep for 9 to 10 hours each night, in modern and comfortable rooms. Sports and leisure activities are daily and varied. Our professional team does its utmost to provide stability and pastoral care.

Switzerland is world renowned for the excellent medical training of its health professionals and the latest technologies in hospitals - which guarantee quality care. Given the close proximity to the local doctor, we are able to take care of an unwell child immediately when first symptoms of illness appear. The school benefits from a wide network of health specialists (orthodontists, dermatolo-gists, ophthalmologists and psychologists) who help us provide the best possible care of your child(ren). The paediatrics department of Aigle Hospital is 10 km from school, and the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) is 40 minutes away. A nurse is responsible of the daily health and well-being of the children in our care and staff members are trained in First Aid annually (BLS/AED).

School Year Programme

School Year Programme

Each academic year we welcome 85-90 boarding and 25-30 day students, aged from 5 to 15, from over 35 countries. La Garenne prides itself on an English-French bilingual approach. During the academic year, our students follow objectives from the British Curriculum from Year 1 (Kindergarden) to Year 10 (Grade 9), and also develop a high level of mastery of the French language.

Responding to continuous requests from our students and their parents, we are proud to announce the launch of "La Garenne Senior School". We will welcome our first Year 10 class to the existing campus in September 2019 (Y11 from 2020, Y12 from 2021 and Y13 from 2022). As our facilities develop, we plan to launch a new class each year, ultimately opening Year 13 (Grade 12) in 2022 - just in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of La Garenne.

In addition to our full time school year curriculum, students may also choose to join La Garenne as part of our "Integration Programme". This offers them a unique taste of academic and boarding life over a shorter period, after which some may choose to join us at a later stage for the full academic year

Whether during the school year or during our camps (summer and winter), we provide many wonderful opportunities (languages, challenges, expeditions, charity projects, school trips around the world) that stimulate the children’s natural curiosity and teaches them valuable life skills.

La Garenne is a CIS Member School (Council of International Schools) and a Cambridge/ DELF-DALF Preparation Centre.

Summer Camps

Summer Camps

In addition to our regular school year and winter camps, each summer we welcome young learners aged 5 to 14 years from more than 35 countries. They enjoy our renowned authentic Swiss Style Summer Camp, with French or English language courses each morning followed by fun cultural activities and themed evenings - all in a warm, reassuring family ambience.